WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange believes election to the senate in his home country Australia will secure his escape from extradition to the United States.

Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for the past eight months, is planning to run as a candidate in Victoria for the September election.

Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa today called on Europe to settle Assange's fate, after being re-elected.

Wanted: Julian Assange hopes election to the Australian senate with force the U.S. to back down

The controversial figure is wanted in
Sweden over sex assault allegations but believes it is part of a plot
to put him on trial in the U.S. over the leaking of classified documents
on his website.

He said if he is elected to the senate then America and Britain - where he skipped bail in relation to the accusations before seeking political refuge - would back down, fearing an international showdown.

In Australia, senators must take up their seats within two months of being elected and Assange is confident this is enough to secure a safe passage out of the UK.